MARCH

This was recorded during MATCHING MOLE's tour of Europe in March of 1972. It's the same lineup as that from the second album "Little Red Record" with Dave MacRae on keys instead of Dave Sinclair from the debut and the electric piano is all over this. As many know Robert Wyatt formed this band in 1971 after leaving SOFT MACHINE and i've never really felt that MATCHING MOLE's two studio albums bore any resemblance to SOFT MACHINE, but I can sure feel that SOFT MACHINE vibe on this live album. First of all every track blends into the next just the way SOFT MACHINE used to do it live, where they'd put their heads down sort of speak and play non-stop from one track to the next.The other thing that reminds me of Wyatt's former band is how experimental this sounds.This isn't that melodic and we get plenty of fuzz too. So yes this is an interesting album to own, one that reveals another side of this band that I hadn't heard before.

"March" opens with Wyatt on drums before the wicked fuzz comes in before a minute. Nasty ! Bass and keys too in this laid back and atmospheric number. Phil Miller offers up some cool guitar expressions. Such a cool track.

"Instant Pussy" is again laid back but check out Wyatt's vocal melodies and expressions. Some really out there stuff here (haha). As I mentioned earlier each track blends into the next and on "Smoke Signals" the guitar comes to the fore before 2 minutes.

"Part Of The Dance" is where the tempo picks up before a minute but it does shift often on this one. Lots of fuzz too. Angular guitar after 2 1/2 minutes and it goes on and on. Nice. Vocal expressions 6 1/2 minutes to 9 minutes then back to that earlier theme. Fantastic song !

"No "alf" Measures" has this beat with electric piano and more.Vocal expressions join in. An outburst before 5 minutes. I like the rhythm section on "Lything And Gracing" with the guitar. It settles before 1 1/2 minutes.The guitar is raw as it leads for a while. Fuzz 4 minutes in.

"Waterloo Lily" is of course a cover of that CARAVAN track. Raw guitar leads and I like the bass and drum work here too.The guitar rips it up late with dissonant keys. Big applause when it ends.

This may not appeal to fans of melodic music, but the adventeous will be turned on. I'm surprised at how much this sounds like a Jazz / Fusion record, much more than a Canterbury album to my ears. Regardless this is absolutely incredible !